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To Sam26 July 2017

I keep buying the morning after pill

i live with my boyfriend and mostly every night me and him feel or do something sexual but some nights we do have sex and i have to go get a morning after pill but this is like 1 or 2 times a fortnight and even though we both money from our parents all of that money is just being spent on the morning after pills and we can only just afford rent for our flat.. please could you help us x thanks

Sam2 August 2017

Hi there,

The morning after pill is emergency contraception and isn't supposed to be used too often. It's important to talk to a doctor or sexual health clinic about when to use it. You can get the contraceptive pill, injection or implant as well as condoms for free and without your parents knowing.

Contraception in the UK is free on the NHS, even if you're under 16. There are lots of types of contraception available and you can get free advice to help you decide which is best for you. Contraception is meant to be taken before having sex, so that you're protected.

The morning after pill is different as it's emergency contraception. It's supposed to be taken only when no other options are available and it isn't completely reliable. Rather than buying this every time you have sex, it's much better to plan ahead and protect yourself from pregnancy using regular contraception.

You have options like the contraceptive pill that you take every day, an injection that can protect you for a few months, or an implant in your arm that can protect you for years. None of these methods protect you from sexually transmitted infections however, so that's something to bear in mind.

I'd recommend taking a look at Brook's page on contraception for more information. When you're ready, you can then make an appointment with your GP or at a local sexual health clinic. Appointments will be confidential and you don't need to get your parents involved. You can find your local service here.

I hope that helps, thanks for your letter.

Sam

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